The Washington Wizards have continued to underwhelm despite getting off to a 10-3 start to the 2021-22 NBA season. Now, they hold a 28-33 record with Bradley Beal since having undergone season-ending wrist surgery.
While many are focused on Kristaps Porzingis moving closer to making his Wizards debut as he is cleared to participate in 5-on-5 for the first time since the trade, there’s bigger things on Washington’s plate.
For starters, Beal is eligible for a five-year, $246 million supermax contract extension in the offseason but there’s uncertainty about his future with the organization.
On a radio appearance, Beal was asked if it’s fair to question if he’s leaning toward re-signing with the Wizards in the offseason. He responded: “That’s fair.”
There was growing speculation about Bradley Beal potentially getting moved to the Philadelphia 76ers in part of an NBA trade deadline move that involved Ben Simmons. The Sixers ultimately acquired James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets, but Joel Embiid reportedly preferred Beal.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Embiid Felt Beal Was Better Fitting Trade Target Than Harden
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons reported on his podcast that Joel Embiid “really wanted” the Sixers to acquire Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal “and was pushing really hard for it.”
“Part of the reason the trade stuff took so long was because there was the Sixers side that wanted Harden—obviously Daryl [Morey], because James Harden is his guy,” Simmons said at the 42-minute mark. “But Embiid really wanted Beal because he felt like he was a better fit and was pushing, pushing, pushing.”
Perhaps something to watch is the Sixers’ continued pursuit of Beal in the offseason. The team could theoretically form a “Big 3” with Beal pairing up with James Harden and Joel Embiid if all parties involved were interested given they have Tobias Harris’ contract to use for salary-matching.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Embiid Felt Beal Was Better Fitting Trade Target Than Harden
Keep in mind, Beal’s long-time trainer, Drew Hanlen, spends most of his time with Sixers superstar Embiid and if both were on the same team, there’d be easy access to work with both superstars.
The Washington Wizards simply lack an outlook to contend in the Eastern Conference now or in the future. It ultimately comes down to Bradley Beal’s preferences. Does he favor contending for a championship? Or, does he just want to cash out on the supermax and put up with mediocrity?